Tiki Barber: ‘Eli Manning Is Better Than Peyton Manning’

of the New York Giants of the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

(Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

On Wednesday on The Morning Show, co-host and former New York Giant Tiki Barber went to bat for his former quarterback Eli Manning in an argument with co-host Brandon Tierney about ranking quarterbacks.

The conversion began with the two talking about Alex Smith during his time in San Francisco, but it shifted to Barber’s former teammate in Manning and where he ranks in the league.

“No matter what he (Eli) does I’d say the next three years, I don’t know that there’s anything he can do that would elevate him into the Top 5 or put him below outside of the Top 12,” Tierney said. “I think he’s kind of where he is for a while and thats a good place, but he’s not [Tom] Brady.”

Barber quickly came to the defense of Manning, citing reasons why Eli does belong in the Top 5. The only thing is that Barber thought Tierney was talking about the Top 5 of all time.

“For Eli to crack that Top 5 that you’re talking about of all time, hes gotta have that year, that 2011 season a couple more times and win another Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP,” Barber said. “And then I think he’s in the discussion of the Top 5 of all time.”

“Of all time?” Tierney asked in astonishment.

“Yeah,” Barber responded.

“Eli?” Tiernery asked again just to make sure.

“Eli,” Barber assured him.

“No way,” Tierney stated.

“If he wins another Super Bowl and has a Super Bowl MVP and he has a season like he did in 2011, stat-wise, where it’s literally all on his back because the run game was gone, I don’t know how you argue that,” Barber said.

“Because of clutch,” Barber said. “What matters in sport? It’s winning and losing. You get to the stage and what do you do? Eli’s gotten there and he’s won.”

“That’s a big statement,” Tierney responded. “You just told me that you think Eli is better than Peyton Manning.”

But as he did with the argument about whether or not Eli is a Top 5 quarterback of all time, Barber gave reasons to prove his statement and try to persuade Tierney to see his point of view.

“One he’s had some unbelievable years like he did in 2011 and they won a Super Bowl that year by the way against Tom Brady, the best quarterback of our era people are saying and he’s beaten him twice, so how can you not stick him in that conversation?” Barber said. “And his postseason record is significantly better than his brothers, so that’s another conversation that gives Eli an edge.

“It’s why as much as you want to try to diminish what he’s done, you can’t. Because every stat or conversation point supports what he’s done.”